Packfill

No way Josh Smith can play shooting guard. Childress definite maybe in terms of long range ability to play shooting guard, but now chance with Josh Smith.

Interesting take on the games of the top point guards. I actually think Paul has the much more well developed offensive game as he is a much better shooter then either Williams or Felton. I like Both Paul and Williams for their pure point guard skills. I like Williams for his defense and intangibles and Felton for his speed.

Only time will tell which is the best. They are all talented enough, particularly Paul and Williams, to warrant selection at number 2.

I think a poin guard at number 2 overall is a real possibility. Whether PAul or Williams is best is hard to quantify. The only thing you can say is that both are extremely talented.

Paul's height should be a non-factor now as he clearly is at least as tall as guys former standouts like John Stockton, Kevin Johnson, Mookie Blaylock, Kenny Anderson, Mark Price, Terrell Brandon, etc. and similar in height to current standouts Mike Bibby, Tony Parker, etc.

It also bears mentioning that he will be taller then contemporaries Sebastian Telfair, Jameer Nelson, TJ Ford, Raymond Felton, Dan Dickau, Luke Ridenour, Chris Duhon, etc.

They are not wingspan, they re standing reach measurements.

If we agree that Dougherty is a good comparison for Bogut, the question that needs to be asked is whether you consider him a franchise player.

Good info, keep it coming.

Dougherty was good but not great by any stretch. He was a step below Hakeem, Patrick, Robinson, etc. Injuries held him back to an extent but he lacked the sheer athletic ability of some of his more accomplished contemporaries. Good smart player though.

The guy is so skinny he would get absolutely physically abused in the paint. He is light years from contributing to an NBA team.

Dougherty was not white.

I don't think it is fair to compare Bogut to Duncan. Duncan is the best player in the world and it is asking an awful lot of an unproven 20 year old - whether his surname is Bogut, Brown, Howard or Okafor - to live up to those lofty expectations.

I think alot of people forget just how good Okafor was for UConn - and remember he has not played basketball for a very long time and improved exponentially in his three years at UConn.

As great a draft as that may be, it would likely leave the Hawks completely devoid of veteran talent and leadership. I don't think that is a good idea.

I think the draft is 2 deep in terms of individual talents, but runs 5 deep in terms of talents that will result in wins. The three extra - you guessed it, Chris Paul, Deron Williams and Raymond Felton. All have demonstrated the ability to make the players around them better and lead their teams to victory. It is no small coincidence that their respective teams performed so well. All three could do for Josh Smith what Steve Nash has done for Amare Stoudamire.

That is exactly why Jerry West is trying to get rid of him - he realizes that JWill has no value in the playoffs.

I know this runs contrary to what most people here think, but I absolutely would not be disappointed of the Hawks drafted Deron at 2 or traded down to get him at 4 or 5.

Darko absolutely was a consensus top pick. There is no question about that. The article referred to Darko being a dark horse candidate for the number 1 pick.

I have a buddy who is a UK grad and follows them religiously. He says people there are down on Morris and his long term potential. That is why I choose Bynum, that and the fact Bynum is bigger.

Darko absolutely was the consensus number two pick. He was being refered to as the dark horse candidate for the number one pick.

My first choice is Bogut for obvious reasons and second choice is Bynum based solely on potential.

You made my point for me. Look at Carmelo Anthony (and Darko for that matter) in the 2003 draft. Carmelo is a good player yes, but he is not as good as Dwayne Wade (the number 5 pick) and potentially will not be as good as Bosh (the number 4 pick). In the 2002 draft Amare Stoudamire (no. 9 pick) has turned out to be a better player then the number one pick Yao Ming. Again, a 1 or 2 pick is not a guarantee unless you are talking about Tim Duncan or LeBron James. Marvin and Mogut are not Duncan and James.

I think there is a rationale basis to consider a trade down. When dealing with prospects nothing is absolute so there is no guarantee that either Marvin or Bogut become stars. Similarly there is no reason to believe Paul or Deron won't be hall of famers.

I think you are off-base in terms of the "hype" factor for foreign players. Sure some are hyped based on potential, but so are high-schoolers and early entry candidates. For every Darko and Skita there is a Kwame, Bender and Diop. Some top foreign players, without any hype, slip to the late first or second round and end up as huge successes - such as Ginobilli, Parker and Kirilenko. Some top US college and high schoolers without "hype" slip and become great successes - Redd, Smoove, Boozer, etc.

The point is there are plenty of foreign born players that justify the draft hype they receive - Dirk, Gasol, Ming, etc. Similarly there are plenty that bust. I don't thik it gets swept under the rug. I think everyone realizes that there is a HUGE risk in drafting a teenager, whether he comes from Texas or Prague.

With his size, if he can consistently stick the ball in the whole from 5 feet then I see no need for him to have an outside game. I think all those other guys are power forwards, good ones mind you, but power forwards. Bynum has size and athletic ability which means he may be Jerome James/DeSagana Diop or Shaq/Ewing.

Deron and Bynum is certaintly an interesting draft.

The biggest problem I have with trading Al is that it would leave the Hawks exceptionally young and without a go to scorer. Having two starting forwards that are 19 is a little scary.

I am really torn on the idea of trading down. I think if the Bucks draft Marvin first then the resolution is easy - draft Bogut as he fills one of the teams biggest needs.

If the Bucks take Bogut, I would strongly consider trading down because I think the Hawks desperately need either a topflight center or topflight point guard from this draft. So trading down to 5th and 13th with Bogut off the board makes a lot of sense. At the same time, there is the fear that Marvin becomes a superstar and the Hawks regret trading his rights away. I am not really as sold on Marvin as others as to me he does not seem like a LeBron, but who knows.